Dirt collector for bowling-alley pits



Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,264

M. L. J. KEHOE DIRT COLLECTOR FOR BOWLING ALLEY PITS Filed March 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [72 we zar Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,264

M. L. J. KEHOE DIRT COLLECTOR FOR BOWLING ALLEY PITS Filed March 31, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARK L. J. KEHOE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DIRT COLLECTOR FOR BOWLING-ALLEY FITS.

Application filed March 31, 1927. Serial No. 179,833.

member is placed in the pit, being elastic and sound deadening, for the pins to drop on; and considerable dust and dirt is collected by the mat and is forced, by the dropping pins and gravity, through the mat onto the floor beneathit.

The main object of this invention is to provide a device and means therewith for collecting the dust and dirt occuring in the bowling alley pit, and moreover to provide means for collecting and withdrawing the dust and dirt which is usually gathered by the mat, where a mat is used, and dropped by it on the floor beneath the mat. Another object is to construct the device with a perforated upper member adapted to support the falling pins and arranged to permit the passage of dust and dirt therethrough, and to gather said dust and dirt in containing means therebeneath. A further object is to provide the device with means for forcibly withdrawing and conveying the dust and dirt from the container and from the upper pin-supporting member, and even from the mat positioned on said member.

These objects and other objects and advantageous ends are attained with my invention, as will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view,showing the preferred form of my invention mounted in positlon in a bowlingalley;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along line 22 on'Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a plan view of the upper perfor ated member;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line on Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken along line 5-5 on Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken along line 66 on Fig. 5. V

In the drawings I have illustrated my invention in its preferred form of construction, which comprises the device or means mountable in the pit 11 of a bowling alley 12, and is here shown as interposed in or taking the place of thepitfioor, in position for supporting the pins13 as they are knocked from the alley into the pit. These alleys are general- 1y provided with sound-deadening or cushioning means, as a rear cushioning member 14 and a floor mat or member 15 on which the pins drop and which is usually braided or permeable, thus being resilient and also apt to take up dust and dirt and let same pass through it to the floor or supporting means beneath.

The present form of my invention comprises an upper member or means 16 arran ed for mounting in the pit floor, and is pre erably substituted for part of the pit floor, in position to receive and support the pins 13 as they are knocked over. This means 16 is also arranged in a shape and size and sufiicient-ly rigid and strong to receive and carry the mat 15 thereon, when the mat is used, and contains perforationsor spaces for the passage therethrough of dust and dirt from the pit, and from the mat supported thereon. Said member 16 may be economically constructed from bars 17 which are spaced by spacers 18, to provide perforations or spaces 19 for the passage of dirt and dust, and said bars and dirt and dust, and this is placed beneath member 16, and preferably has a tapering bottom or depending lower portion which ends in or is provided with a tapered discharge member or funnel 22. A discharge pipe or conduit 23 is attached to this funnel to convey the dirt and dust from the container. A slide valve 24 is mounted at thelbottom of said lower portion, and preferably at the top "of funnel 22, as by means of brackets 25 and 26, or in any suitable manner, to close or shut-off the bottom of the container from the conduit when desired.

In addition to the above described construction I furthermore providemy device, when preferred or so requested, with mechanism or means'for forcibly withdrawing the dirt and dust from the container 21 and from the perforated member 16 above the same and thereby from the pit, and also from the mat on member 16 when "the-mat is used. This means is preferably provided in the form of a suction pump 27 which is actuated by a motor or power member28, and has-an outlet or discharge member 29 thereon for discharging the dirt and-dusttherefrom into any suitable receptacle for carrying the same away. The one forcing means or pump 1s sufficient for a series or plurality of alleys equipped with my devices, and the containers21 through their funnels 22and conduits .23 are then connected in series to the main conduit or conveying means 30 and thereby to tl1(-} 'PL1H1P,'E1S indicated in Fig. l; or the pump may 'be'connected with conduit23 to the funnel 22 of the container 21 when one device is employed; .and the pump and conveying means .are furthermore arranged and installed to suit the particular occasion.

It is apparent from the above disclosure that my deviceis very useful and efficient in gathering and conveying the dust and dirt from .the p it of the bowling alley, and with the suction means inaction will even with- ..drawthe .dustand dirt from the mat as well .as from the floor .or the supporting .means beneath the mat; and furthermore that when the suction means or force meansis not operative, or no-suctionmeans is employed, then the shut-off valve 24 .can be closed and the .dirt.and dust allowed to collect in the container, .and thereafter .shoveled or removed in any convenient manner therefrom after lifting .upmeansld'when the alley is idle.

Theinstallation andcontinuous use of my devicehas proven it tobe highly valuable and efficient inremoving dirt and dust from the bowling alley pit and from the mat therein.

WhatI claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device forabowling alley pit, comprising means arranged for mounting in the .pit in place ofafixed part-thereof and to permit the passage of dirt therethrough, and a receptacle on said :means for receiving the dirt therefrom.

2. A device fora bowling alley pit, comprising meansarranged for mounting in the .pitto replace apart thereof and for passage of dirt therethrough, and dirt collecting means .therebcneath provided with valve controlled discharge means at the lower end.

3. A .devicefor-a bowling alley pit, comprising means arranged for mounting in the vpit to replacea part thereof and for passage .of dirt therethrough, container means mounted under it and below the ffioor for collecting dirtt-herefrom, and means for forcibly drawing and conveying the dirt from said container means.

I 4. A device'fora bowling alley pit, comprising means moun'table in the pit in place of the pit floor and of sufiicient size and strength to support the pins when knocked over and being provided with passages for dirt, and means thereunder with a tapering bottom for collecting the dirt.

5. A device for a bowling alley pit, comprising alevelmember mountable in the pit in place of a part of the pit floor,'and containing spacedbar-sadapted to pass dirt therethrough, and container means mounted under the bottom'ofsaid member for collecting the dirt.

6. A device for a bowling alley ,pitycomprising means having elements spaced for the passage of dirtand arranged .for'installing in the ,pit floorand substituted for a part of said floor, container means mounted therebe- 'neath, and a discharge conduit at the lower end of said container means and having a shut-ofi valve at the bottom of said means.

'7. A bowling alley having a pit, a member with openings therein positioned'in the floor of said pit and adaptedto supportthe falling leading from the lower end of said container, 7

a shut-off valve at the connection of said container and conduit, and means for forcibly drawing the dirt from said rcondu'itand container .and'even fromsaid mat, and while the bowling alley is in use.

9. A bowling alley havinga pit and cushioning means therefor, a device for. removing dust and dirt from said cushioningmeans and pit, said device comprising means substituted for the pitfloor and on which said cushioning means is mounted and supported and which isarranged for dustand dirt to pass therethrough and drop beneaththejfioor. 10. Abowling alley comprising a pit'which has the larger part of the customary floor omitted, and which hasa dirt collecting device installed therein including .a perforated member mounted .in placeof the omittedgpart of said pit floor, and a receptaclemounted on the bottom .of said perforated member,

below the floor,.for collectingra considerable amount of dirt dropping through saidrmember and permit an extended continuous use of said bowlingalley.

11. A bowling alley having a;pit with the larger part of thepit floor omitted, said pit having a dirt collecting device installedtherein and comprising a perforated member mounted in place of said omitted part of the pit floor, a receptacle mounted under said perforated member, and arranged for collecting a considerable amount of dirt dropping through said member and below the floor, and valve means on said receptacle to allow the convenient removal of the dirt therefrom without interrupting the continuous opera- 10 tion of said bowling alley.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MARK L. J. KEHOE. 

